History

2015

October – German Jan Frodeno, racing on just-released NSW technology, blazed to victory on a brutally hot day at the 2015 Ironman® World Championship in Kona.

October – Zipp in Kona introduced a new platform for cutting edge products and innovation. Within the NSW Series, Zipp will develop and refine halo-level products with our most advanced technologies on an ongoing basis. As the inaugural wheelset in the NSW Series, the Zipp 808 NSW Carbon Clincher, offers a new rim shape with greater aerodynamic efficiency and reduced side force as well as a new hubset for increased durability and less drag. Compared with an 808 Firecrest, the 808 NSW provides a 3-4 watt savings, which means an estimated 90 seconds at 40km per hour over a 112 mile (180.25km) Ironman® -distance race. NSW wheels feature many exclusive technologies including ABLC™ SawTooth™ dimpling, Showstopper™ braking surface, ImPress™ direct-print graphics, and the new Cognition™ hubset.

September – Zipp-supported elite female racers were big winners at the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia. In the team time trial, Velocio-SRAM won gold and Boels-Dolmans silver. In the Elite Women’s race, Lizzie Armitstead of Great Britain took gold and American Megan Guarnier bronze. American Chloe Dygert, who grew up just a few miles from the Zipp factory in Indiana, captured gold in the Junior Women’s Time Trial and Road Race.

August – Firecrest is Reborn. Zipp announced that its industry-changing lineup of Firecrest wheels, as well as the 202 Tubular, would feature the new 77/177 hubset. The result is improved durability and bearing protection with no pre-load adjustment needed. Firecrest wheels also are available at a new price point. This change affected the entire rim-brake Firecrest lineup – including the 202, 303, 404 and 808 Firecrest models – as well as the 202 Tubular.

August – Tangente tire lineup is expanded to include the Tangente Course R28 and R30, for racing and high performance riding, and the race ready Tangente Speed R28. The Course is a tire that takes disc brakes’ opportunity for increased tire width and multiplies that by delivering faster rolling, better grip, and improved aerodynamics.

August – The Zipp 30 Course Tubular and Carbon Clincher become available as a rim-brake wheelset. The 30 Course features the 77/177 hubset, which like the disc-brake version is compatible with the XDR driver body allowing a 10-42 cassette.

July – Zipp added important team sponsorships including France-based AG2R LA MONDIALE, which won two stages in the Tour de France with Alexis Vuillermoz on Stage 8 and Romain Bardet on Stage 18.

July – Zipp’s 404 and 808 Firecrest track wheels now are laced to the new 333 track hubset. The 333 is engineered to improve acceleration and tracking through banked velodrome turns under power on the velodrome.

July – Zipp introduced a redesign of its iconic Vuka Aero integrated aero bar designed to offer the most fit options and best-in-class aero efficiency, while also delivering compatibility with modern aero bikes. The Vuka Aero’s airfoil is based on the best-selling Zipp SL-70 Aero bar. The bar also features SRAM’s Exogram™ technology, the same used in the ultra light and strong SRAM® RED cranks and Zipp SL Sprint stem.

May – The first 404 Firestrike Tubular and the second edition of the 404 Firestrike Carbon Clincher are introduced, timed with the wheels being ridden by the Axeon Cycling Team at the Amgen Tour of California. Only 404 each of the 404 Firestrike Tubular and Carbon Clincher were manufactured and sold. The 404 Firestrike Tubular featured a new Carbon Shield, new mold-tool design, and mold process that was in part a result of testing done on le Carrefour de l’Arbre, one of Paris-Roubaix’ punishing five-star cobblestone sectors.

April – The new 30 Course Clincher Disc-brake become Zipp’s first tubeless-ready wheel. Zipp also launches the 30 Course Tubular Disc-brake wheelset as its first aluminum tubular wheelset. The 30 Course is a multi-use wheel designed to excel in road, gravel, cyclocross, or mixed surface riding. All 30 Course wheels utilize the 77/177D (disc brake) hubset and are compatible with the XDR driver body.

March – Zipp introduced its 202 and 303 Firecrest Disc-brake wheelsets, which now feature the 77/177D hubset for improved stiffness, durability, simplicity, and versatility. Innovations and features of the 77/177D hubset include improved bearing protection and seals as well as thru-axle compatibility. The bearing preload is precision set at the factory, meaning no pre-load adjustment is needed. These wheels also marked the first availability of the XDR driver body allowing an ultra wide-range 10-42 cassette option.

January – The pro-proven Service Course and Service Course SL stems and seatposts are redesigned for improved fit options and stiffness-to-weight ratios as well as new graphics. For the first time, Zipp offers a ±6° stem, the Service Course SL-OS, that fits 1-1/4 inch steerer tubes. The SL-OS along with the Service Course SL stem and seatpost are forged using 7075 aluminum. The Service Course stem and seatpost use 6061 aluminum.

New drop bar shapes are launched for Service Course aluminum bars, product names changed to reflect reach (70, 80, 88). Service Course SL bars have 7050 and Service Course bars 6061 alloys. Drop changes give increased ergonomics in both drops and hood positions based on Pro team and fitter feedback. A new stem SL Sprint with revised faceplate design ships in October 2013.

In February 2014 we upgraded the black, front 18 hole, 88 V7 hub to V9. Spoke retention rings were removed, spoke slots made deeper and the hub flanges thickened for more durability. This was an in-line change with no alteration to part number, price, spoke length or function.

New aero accessories are launched in mid-March. BTA alumina (Between The Arms) - a horizontally mounted bottle holder with integrated Quickview computer mount. A compatible all uni-carbon bottle cage is sold as a separate item. A new black Silca disc valve adapter with adjustable chuck ships with discs during March. Zipp launches the SL-70 Aero - a new uni-carbon aero drop bar with redesigned drop geometry in March 2014. This replaces the older, popular VukaSprint, improves the aero, internal routing, has a more ergonomic ramp angle and drop design. Available in 38-44cm C-C.

During August 2014 we launched 2 new clincher tire versions in 23mm and 25mm widths. Tangente Course - is a 120 tpi racing and training tire (205g/2015g) with extra puncture and wear protection in a rubber / nylon casing, while the Tangente Speed - is a 220 tpi super-fast, light weight racing tire (180g/190g) with extra low rolling resistance. In September 2014, the new Tangente SLSpeed tubular tires in 24mm (265g) and 27mm (275g) shipped. The SL Speed has 320 tpi with a cotton / latex base tape and a very supple compound for improved road holding and faster acceleration. All new tires are optimized for maximum aero savings with both Firecrest and Firestrike rims.

2013

Upgraded 11 speed compatible rear 188 (V8) hub with thicker axle, new free hub and different black end cap without an “O” ring. This improvement builds a marginally stiffer rear wheel, slightly increases the drop to drop width and will be only available in a black color. We offer an upgrade service for 2012 (V7) gray and black hubs that will swap out axle, free hub and end cap, including a wheel re-dish, to accommodate 11 (and 10 speed with a spacer) drive chains (October 2012).

Launch the new carbon clincher Super-9 disc – the fastest wheel yet! The first all carbon disc in the market. At 1175g, this wheel is 27.5mm wide and almost flat with sloping brake tracks to improve aerodynamics. Available in road or track version with 11 speed compatibility (November 2012).

New wheel and disc decals are offered starting in October 2012 in black or white with reverse black or white outline. We have increased the decal size by dropping the lower “Speed Weaponry” banner to give a cleaner look. The circular disc valve covers are redesigned to accentuate the carbon clincher, add a red accent and given a “Darth Vader” helmet like shape.

January - 2013. New 11 speed black 188 disc hub replaces the silver 182 and 188 versions on 900 / Sub9 and Super-9 discs. Different flanges are used on the 900 / Sub9 and Super-9 discs but retain the same internals and bearings. Tangente Evo Pro brake pads, designed for carbon braking surfaces, have a modified shape to increase air flow, improve water dispersal are 1mm thinner with 10% increase in surface area for longer wear. These new pads run 12 degrees cooler than others tested in our lab. Shimano pads released in November 2012 and Campy in January 2013.

March 2013 - Ship new 404 650c Firecrest carbon clincher wheel set - the fastest wheel for smaller riders in the market. Zipp 30 - a 30mm deep aluminum clincher with wider (20.4mm) parallel brake tracks and a new hub. This wheel set is at the lowest price point and designed for entry level racing or training. Zipp 60 - a 58mm deep dimpled hybrid aluminum / carbon clincher with similar hubs to the Zipp 30, provides an entry level price point for a fully structural carbon wheel. Vuka Stealth - a fully integrated, UCI compliant, 42cm (o-o), carbon, aerobar, designed to offer maximum fit options with an integrated stem in 3 lengths. The Vuka Stealth uses Vuka Alumina risers and wing pad extensions to give a total of 1920 fit possibilities.

July 2013 we shipped the Zipp 303 disc brake wheel set. Available in tubular or clincher versions with either white or black decals. This wheelset has 24/24 spokes, new black disc brake hubs with no sand-blasting on the brake track. The spoke angle is different from regular road wheels to accommodate the rotors.

November 2013 the Super-9 clincher Impress limited edition disc ships. This is the first product with images printed directly on the carbon surface giving unlimited future flexibility and reducing weight.

Manufacture and sale of the aluminum Zipp 101 wheel set, with distinctive aero sloping brake tracks, is halted in early November. This all-round wheel set is replaced by the popular 30mm deep Zipp 30 at a lower price-point with different hubs and bearings.

2012

Re-design (V7) and improve the current 88/188 hubs with canted, rear, non-drive flange, axle change, 7.5mm wider non-drive bearing location and two color options - falcon gray and beyond black. Offer these color choices across the wheel line, with matching spoke and nipple colors. The Al Zipp 101 is only available in "beyond black". (October 2011)

Introduce the Service Course CSL handlebar, an aluminum black Al road drop bar with oval bar top and new SSR (short shallow reach) drop style. Add a Zipp all carbon SL Speed seat post in two diameters to the Service Course Al seat post lineup. Offer two decal styles (white and stealth black) across the Service Course bar line.(October 2011)

MAX and CX wheel sets are withdrawn while rider weight limits are increased to 250 lbs for the 404 and 808 Firecrest models to reflect the greater durability and stiffness of these new wheel lines. The 303 Al clincher wheel set is dropped in favor of new 303 carbon clincher (October 2011).

New silver Platinum Pro brake pads are released for carbon braking surfaces only. These pads stop far better than cork in the wet and give improved wear life. (October 2011). Beyond black decals, new valve extenders with a removeable core and a butly inner tube are made available for after-market purchase in November 2011.

2011

1080 AL clincher wheel set withdrawn in January - replaced be the faster and way lighter 808 carbon clincher. Redesigned red Firecrest and other valve hole decals introduced in April. The new 303 Firecrest carbon clinchers and tubular wheels are launched in October along with hub and color changes.

Older toroidal rim shapes are discontinued along with all MAX and CX wheel sets as the Firecrest wheels are now stiffer, stronger and more durable. Rider weight limits are increased. New silver Platinum Pro brake pads released for all carbon braking surfaces - perform better in the wet and wear longer.

Rear 188 hub improved and customers given a choice of gray or black color styles. The silver hubs are discontinued and ZedTech custom wheels dropped for 2012.